- Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center opens to attract
and develop high-tech, high-demand talent and increase Black,
Hispanic and female representation in the field
- The new Atlanta location joins
a global network of Ford centers designed to inspire innovation and
creativity as the company transforms digitally to lead a new era of
automated, connected and electrified vehicles
- The city of Atlanta is
selected for Ford's next City:One Challenge, program offers up to
$150,000 in grants to local startups
collaborating with residents to pilot mobility solutions
ATLANTA, Oct. 13,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ford Motor Company is opening
the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center (FARIC) to advance
the company's digital transformation in areas such as software-led
connected vehicles, artificial intelligence, university
research and more.
FARIC joins a network of Ford research and development
facilities in Tel Aviv and Palo
Alto dedicated to pioneering the future of transportation with
automated, connected and electrified vehicles. Now, the new
Atlanta location places Ford in
one of the most diverse tech talent markets in the U.S. and enables
the company to develop a pipeline of software experts with a
variety of backgrounds.
"Ford is transitioning from a traditional automotive company to
a digital products and services company driven by software
innovation," said Jim Buczkowski,
executive director for Ford Research, Advanced Engineering.
"There's a high demand for tech talent across industries,
and we have an opportunity to create non-traditional career
pathways to attract and develop the expertise needed to stay
competitive."
As the company undergoes the most profound transformation in its
history, it remains committed to developing a workforce that
reflects the communities and customers that it serves. For Ford,
this includes attracting and retaining historically
underrepresented talent, especially in the software engineering and
high technology fields.
"Atlanta continues to attract
and grow tech companies and startups; and we continue to attract a
desirable talent base — particularly for Black tech talent. We look
forward to this partnership with the Ford Atlanta Research and
Innovation Center, which has the potential to help us grow an even
more robust and diverse pipeline," said Mayor Andre Dickens.
Aside from serving as an innovation hub and delivering software
solutions, the FARIC team will also focus on increasing Black,
Hispanic and female representation in software engineering and high
technology careers. Strategies include:
- Leveraging relationships with regional Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and The Atlanta University Center
Consortium to help make high-tech career opportunities more
available to diverse students
- Continuing to create and deepen relationships with regional
colleges and universities, including HBCUs and Hispanic Service
Institutions, to conduct pioneering research and address Ford's
growing need for the new competencies required for electrification,
connected vehicles and software engineering that are
revolutionizing Ford products, technologies and services
- Creating flexible, non-traditional career pathways for people
interested in pursuing software and high-tech careers, including
co-ops, internships, part-time work, and non-degree software
programs in collaboration with Atlanta-based TechBridge and community partner
City of Refuge
"Underrepresentation is a significant issue in software and
engineering industries, especially when it comes to Black and
Hispanic communities, which makes it particularly exciting to work
with local colleges, universities and nonprofits to help bring
greater diversity into the tech space," said Doron Elliott, senior manager of Ford In-Vehicle
Infotainment, who will also oversee FARIC operations. "Building
this critical talent base will enable Ford to continue to find
innovative and efficient ways to develop cutting-edge products and
services to meet the demands of a very diverse customer base."
New Workplace Design
Standards
Located within the new 8West development on Atlanta's Upper West Side (889 Howell Mill
Road NW), the 24,000-square-foot FARIC space is designed to surpass
standard ADA compliance with a thoughtful, accessible layout that
supports inclusion, flexibility, collaboration and innovation.
The all-new workspace supports individual needs while promoting
creativity and team collaboration through an open and accessible
floor plan designed to support the needs of a diverse and
innovative team. It includes individual focus space, sit/stand
desks, soft seating, and phone booth-style space where employees
can take calls or work independently.
The meeting spaces extend beyond traditional conference rooms to
an open collaboration space with a learning stair for large
group meetings equipped with technology to incorporate virtual
participants, a garage space for hands-on problem-solving and
living-room-style seating for more casual brainstorms or
catch-ups.
"We have learned so much over the last few years about flexible
workspace and its power to inspire employees," said Jennifer Kolstad, Ford's global design &
brand director. "We've created an environment at FARIC that allows
individuals and teams to choose what kind of environment is most
efficient in the moment."
People interested in pursuing career opportunities at FARIC
should email FARIC@ford.com.
Atlanta City:One
Challenge
Ford will bring its next City:One Challenge to Atlanta. The crowd-sourcing platform, created
by Ford, helps cities identify mobility solutions designed to
address systemic mobility inequity, accessibility, safety and
sustainability issues. It offers up to $150,000 in grants to startups and entrepreneurs
to pilot mobility solutions with Atlanta residents.
The Atlanta City:One Challenge will focus on addressing income
inequality and its impact on safety and access to mobility,
particularly for women, aging adults, students, and people with
disabilities.
Sponsored by AT&T, Delta Air Lines, the Metro Atlanta
Chamber, and Novelis, the program is administered in part by
student fellows from local colleges and universities, and proposals
will be accepted May–June 2023. Winners will be chosen by
December 2023, and mobility pilots
are expected to deploy in Atlanta
neighborhoods by summer 2024.
Since 2018, City:One has distributed more than $1 million in grant funding to 15 mobility pilots
across the country.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in
Dearborn, Michigan, that is
committed to helping build a better world, where every person is
free to move and pursue their dreams. The company's Ford+ plan for
growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new
capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich
experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford
develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport
utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected
services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions
in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford
employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the
company, its products and Ford Credit is available at
corporate.ford.com
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution
photos and video, visit
www.media.ford.com.
Contact:
|
Wes Sherwood
|
|
313.573.3530
|
|
wsherwoo@ford.com
|
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SOURCE Ford Motor Company